Fort Macon

Fort Macon (1834-1877)(1898-1903)(1941-1945) - A Third System masonry fort begun in 1826 and first garrisoned in Dec 1834. Named after Nathaniel Macon. Abandoned by the U.S. Army in 1903 but reoccupied by U.S. Army troops from Dec 1941 to Nov 1944 during World War II and finally returned to the state 1 Oct 1946.

Fort Macon History

Established to protect the entrance to the harbor at Beaufort and Morehead City, North Carolina.

Fort Macon is a Third System fort shaped as an irregular pentagon and constructed of brick and stone masonry. It has 26 casemates enclosed by walls that average 4 1/2 feet thick. Three of the five sides face seaward. The fort was designed to mount 51 seacoast cannon. See Weaver, pages 139-141 for a detailed description.

• 1826-1834 Construction
• 1934-1935 Restored by the Civilian Conservation Corps
• 1861-1862 In Confederate hands
• 1862-1865 In Union Hands, used as a coaling station for ships
• 1867-1876 A federal prison
• 1877 Closed and placed in caretaker status
• 1898-1898 Garrisoned during the summer during the Spanish American War
• 1903 Abandoned
• 1941-1944 World War II
• 1946 Returned to the State of North Carolina

Current Status

Restored and operating as a North Carolina State Park.

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Location: Fort Macon State Park is located in Carteret County on the eastern end of Bogue Banks. From I-95, take US 70 east to Morehead City and turn south on Atlantic Beach Causeway. Cross the bridge to Atlantic Beach and turn left on NC 58. The fort is located at the tip of the island. Maps & Images Lat: 34.69667 Long: -76.68028 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 25'

Sources:

• Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 619-620
• Weaver, John R. II, A Legacy in Brick and Stone: America Coastal Defense Forts of the Third System, Redoubt Press, McLean, 2001, First Printing, ISBN 1-57510-069-X, page 139-141

Links:

• North Carolina Parks

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